In an interview released on Monday, Pope Francis expressed confidence that critics of his decision to permit blessings for same-sex couples would eventually come to understand it, with one notable exception – Africans, whom he referred to as “a special case.”
The permission for such blessings was granted last month through a document titled Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), triggering widespread debate within the Catholic Church.
The strongest opposition has however come from African bishops, prompting Pope Francis to address the issue.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, the Pope stated, “Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups”.
“A special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something ‘bad’ from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it,” the Pope added.
Despite the resistance, Pope Francis expressed his trust that over time, individuals would be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, emphasizing its inclusive rather than divisive nature.
“But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide,” he stated.
Acknowledging the pushback, particularly from Africa, where some countries have harsh penalties for same-sex activity, Pope Francis addressed the issue of administering blessings.
He mentioned that priests should “naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it.”
